The $2 million grant, over three years, comes from the U.S. Department of Health’s Health Resources & Services Administration, according to the university. The new program will increase primary, mental health and behavioral care in rural communities and create clinical partnerships that will allow students to practice at partnering clinics.

At least 3.3 million Medicare patients in Florida seek primary care, behavioral and mental health services, according to FAU.

“We believe that a caring-based nurse practitioner workforce is the ideal group to provide population-based care for patients in underserved and rural areas throughout South Florida,” Lynne Dunphy, associate dean and professor in FAU’s College of Nursing, said in a statement. “Our award is focused on the unmet health care needs of underserved populations in South Florida and builds in additional curriculum content on mental health.”